Adelphia founder John Rigas wants the folks back home in Pennsylvania to serve as jurors at his corporate fraud trial, rather than a bunch of hard-nosed New Yorkers.

Lawyers for the 78-year-old cable pioneer, who is accused of presiding over a colossal $2.5 billion swindle, told a federal judge yesterday they were conducting public surveys in Pennsylvania and New York.

They said they planned to ask the court to move the case to Williamsport, Pa.-about 100 miles from their home town of Coudersport.

Rigas’ lawyer Ben Preziosi said several hundred people would be surveyed because his client didn’t wanted to be “lumped together in what has been called corporate greed.”

Rigas, and his two sons Michael, 48, and Timothy Rigas, 46, face up to 20 years in jail if convicted of charges they looted Adelphia’s accounts, built a golf course with company money and used corporate jets for personal reasons.

The family, who live together in a $700,000 home in Coudersport, are regarded by some people as “pillars of the community.”

Manhattan judge Leonard Sand ordered the lawyers to submit their arguments for moving the trial by March 3.